"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of Netflix and off various columns highlighting new movies as well.

Pat’s had it rough. After losing everything, he gets committed
to a psych hospital. When his mom gets him out, he begins to start putting the
pieces of his life back together again.

Selina’s Point of View:

This was not my first time seeing this film. Actually, it
wasn’t even the third time.

I love this movie. I love it. It may very well be in my top
ten movies. If I were to sit down and think about it, possibly even in my top
five.

It’s difficult for me to find fault anywhere in Silver Linings Playbook. It’s quirky,
dramatic, heart-wrenching, humorous, cringe-worthy, thrilling, and pretty much
anything else you could want in a film.

The story is incredible. I love movies that exhibit how
difficult things can get, that the world can “break your heart ten ways to
Sunday,” but that you can overcome it. I believe this movie tells that story
better than most.

Aside from that, Bradley Cooper (Aloha, The Hangover, American Hustle), Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games, X-Men: Days of Future
Past, Winter’s Bone), Robert De Niro (American
Hustle, Killing Season, New Year’s Eve), Jacki Weaver (Gracepoint, Haunt, Animal Kingdom) and Chris Tucker (Jackie Brown, Money Talks, Friday) are
all amazing actors that were at the top of their game for this film. There isn’t
a single casting I would want to see different.

I’ve heard so many good things about this movie. It’s been
on my to-watch list for a while now. Events have seemed to conspire against
viewing – from premature DVR deletion to pop-up severe weather causing power
outages. This time, I showed that movie who was boss!

This film was a dramatic work focusing on the path of
redemption for a man suffering from bipolar disorder, and recovering from a
traumatic loss of control. It was, however, expertly sprinkled with comedy. It
was a glorious balance. It swept me along for the ride.

The cast was remarkable. Of course, one would expect no less
from someone like Robert De Niro (The
Family, Limitless, Little Fockers). The man’s a legend; and has proven time
and time again his worthiness of that status. Even in a supporting role as the
slightly OCD, Eagles-fanatic father struggling to relate to his bi-polar son.

The chemistry between Bradley Cooper (American Sniper, Guardians of the Galaxy, The A-Team) and Jennifer Lawrence
(Serena, American Hustle, House at the
End of the Street) was palpable – even when they were yelling at each other
(perhaps especially then).

Chris Tucker’s (Rush
Hour, The Fifth Element, Dead Presidents) appearance in this film was a
pleasant surprise. He brought an element of comedy all his own that was just
right. It was definitely a more subtle performance for him than in some of his
previous over-the-top roles.

I was really hoping this film would live up to the hype. I
must say, I wasn’t disappointed.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 92%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 86%

Netflix’s Prediction for Selina – 4.9/5

Selina’s Trust-the-Dice Score – 5/5

Netflix’s Prediction for Cat – 4.7/5

Cat’s Trust-the-Dice Score
– 5/5

P.S. Silver Linings
Playbook is based off a novel of the same name by Matthew Quick

This is it. The last movie starring Robin Williams (Good Will Hunting, The Birdcage, Aladdin).
After this, what has been, is all that will be.

As fans, there’s nothing on heaven or earth that could keep us
from seeing this film. Bad or good, regardless of topic, we just want to see
the legend one more time.

The final quote in the trailer is heartbreaking, given the
circumstances: “It’s never too late to finally start living the life you really
want.”

9 – Paper Towns (July
24)

Director: Jake
Schreier

Writer: Scott
Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, John Green

Actors: Nat
Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Halston Sage

Genre: Romance

Rated: PG-13

The Fault in Our Stars
(2014) was a tear-jerking masterpiece, both on page and on screen. Paper Towns is developed from a book
written by the same author: John Green (Crash
Course: World History, Crash Course: Literature, Vlogbrothers).

Regardless of writer, though, the trailer for this film is
enticing and makes us want to see what happens. Mystery and romance can be a
more than decent combination.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (The
Expendables, Junior, Total Recall) starring in a Terminator film is a huge dose of nostalgia for us. So many years
later, with him returning to the film franchise opposite someone like Emilia
Clarke (Game of Thrones, Spike Island,
Dom Hemingway) is awe-inspiring.

It would be impossible to not want to see Terminator Genisys. If you’re a fan of
the franchise, it’s going to be an amazing chapter. If you’re unfamiliar with
the original films, chances are that once you watch the trailer, you’ll want to
get familiar real quick.

We disagreed a bit over where to put Magic Mike XXL on the list. One of us thought it should be around
8, the other thought it should be higher. We compromised.

The first Magic Mike
(2012) brought many to their knees with the sexy men and dance moves, but what
people who didn’t watch the movie might not realize, is that it wasn’t all
about making a girl’s ovaries quiver. The story line was interesting and there
was a bit of action/drama in there.

It’s because of the story line that we’re looking forward to
Magic Mike XXL. Oh, sure, we’re not
going to close our eyes when Joe Manganiello (True Blood, Sabotage, How I Met Your Mother) or Channing Tatum (Foxcatcher, This is the End, 21 Jump Street)
hit the stage, but that’s not the primary draw.

The primary draw comes from what we know of the acting
skills portrayed by the aforementioned actors, Matthew Bomer (American Horror Story, White Collar, Chuck),
Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games, Zack
and Miri Make a Porno, Slither), Amber Heard (Machete Kills, Paranoia, 3 Days to Kill) and Jada Pinkett Smith (Gotham, Hawthorne, The Matrix Reloaded).
It also comes from our knowledge of the insane comedic timing possessed by
Gabriel Iglesias (Cristela, A Haunted
House 2, The Book of Life) and the unique dance style of Stephen ‘tWitch’
Boss (Step Up All In, Step Up Revolution,
Hairspray).

Ben Kingsley (The Boxtrolls,
Ender’s Game, Schindler’s List) is one of those actors that immediately
make people want to buy a ticket. Ryan Reynolds (R.I.P.D., Safe House, Paper Man) has his own loyal following as
well. The question isn’t whether or not they’ll be great in their parts, but if
their chemistry will resonate.

Regardless of actors, the story of the film is incredible. A
sci-fi style thriller with that much meat to the plot? Sign us up.

The Random Review is a big fan of the Sharknado series. It’s super corny, absolutely ridiculous and so
much fun it’s hard to believe The Asylum had anything to do with it.

Hey, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

It’s because we love the first two films, that we are
excited to see that Anthony C. Ferrante (Headless
Horseman, Boo, Project RCVR), Thunder Levin (Atlantic Rim, AE: Apocalypse Earth, American Warships), Ian Ziering
(90210, That’s My Boy, The Legend of
Awesomest Maximus), and Tara Reid (American
Reunion, Unnatural Causes, The Crow: Wicked Prayer) all returned to do
their parts.

We don’t know how much longer this franchise will succeed,
but for now, we’re all for this next one.

Let’s forget about the video game aspect of this film and
the fact that one of the writers for this blog had a video game themed wedding.
Let’s forget that the super-amazing Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, Knights of Badassdom)
is in it and sporting a wicked mullet. Let’s even forget that it looks like
Adam Sandler (Anger Management, 50 First
Dates, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry) might have gone back to his
actually funny roots.

You realize the director, Chris Columbus (Rent, Mrs. Doubtfire, Percy Jackson &
the Olympians: The Lightning Thief), is the same man credited with writing
the screenplay for The Goonies and
directed the first two Harry Potter films,
right?

Aside from that, the trailer looks ridiculous, in the best
way.

We are taking bet on when Sean Bean (Legends, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, Game of Thrones) will die.
Five minutes in? Twenty? Not until the end? Let’s see some guesses!

A Marvel movie is coming out this month, did anyone not
expect to see it at number one on this list?

We think Paul Rudd (Parks
and Recreation, This is 40, Our Idiot Brother) was the perfect choice for
the lead role. The only concern is how to make Ant-Man a real Marvel-style film without having that parody feel.

In the trailer, you see the train set scene which looks epic…
and then funny. That scene alone makes it look like they struck a decent enough
balance between action and comedy to not fall into a joke-like feel.

If anyone can do it, Marvel can.

A side note? Chris Evans (Captain America, Avengers, Snowpiercer) is listed as an uncredited
actor in this film. Is he going to make a cameo like he did in Thor: The Dark World (2013) or is that
hinting at what we might see in the after-credits scene?